33 



plants are green. Haying this kind of millet is attended with 

 much difficulty, and is to be avoided if possible. I would not 

 grow more than could be fed green to advantage, unless it is con- 

 venient to ensile it, in which case it is entirely satisfactory though 

 slower and more expensive to handle than corn. 



Indian Corn. — No forage plant in the corn belt of America 

 can equal Indian corn. Every dairyman is largely dependent upon 

 it for his supply of both coarse forage and concentrates. Not 

 only are the gluten and various corn feeds the cheapest concen- 

 trated fodders the milk producer can obtain, but the value of corn 

 fodder fresh, dried, or ensiled becomes yearly more apparent. 

 The " cow to the acre " problem comes nearer its solution in corn 

 than in any other crop The adaptability of soil and climate, the 

 certainty of a crop, the usual heavy production and the ease and 

 economy of culture all dictate the general cultivation of a good 

 acreage of corn, while the animals fed are all partial to it in nearly 

 every form. Whatever the crop system pursued, whether soiling, 

 pasture, or any hybrid of the two, a liberal provision of corn 

 fodder for the month of its maturity is the best possible practice. 



The problem for the dairyman to consider is not whether to 

 grow corn or not, but how much corn can my cows get away with, 

 for the more corn the farmer grows and feeds, the more inde- 

 pendent is he of feed markets and the fuller his pocketbook at the 

 end of the season. 



Alwa}'s calculate to have a full supply of corn fodder, from the 

 first variety that forms an ear till a week or more after frost has 

 stopped its growth. A succession should be planned so that corn 

 may form the staple fodder as long as possible. Select the earli- 

 est varieties that make a passable growth, follow with medium 

 early varieties making a larger growth, and finally finish the sea- 

 son with the largest sort that comes to maturity. The cow's taste 

 is not to be overlooked in the selection, and a decided preference 

 may be observed for the sweet varieties over the flint corns, and 

 especially over dent varieties which have too coarse woody stalks 

 to feed to the best advantage. 



Some fallacies in corn culture are prevalent. One of the com- 

 mon ones is that of too thick planting. The maximum feeding- 

 value is obtained in corn making a full ear. The ideal planting 

 secures just as many stalks as will produce fully developed ears. 

 If corn is sown so thickly that no ears form, neither the quantity 

 nor quality of forage are increased and there is a loss of seed. 

 Another common notion that corn in blossom is in its best feeding 

 condition is an error. Corn never improves in feeding value 

 faster than from the silk to the glazing stage. Cows fed upon 



